Weather News

Heavy rain keeps SE Queensland saturated

Brett Dutschke,
Monday February 25, 2013 - 17:45 EDT

Heavy rain has returned to southeast Queensland, keeping the ground saturated after heavy falls a week ago, prompting a flood warning.

The area affected by this recent heavy rain covers the Southeast Coast, Darling Downs, Wide Bay and Burnett and Capricornia. Coastal rivers and adjacent inland catchments are under a flooding warning, in part due to heavy rain which saturated the ground about a week ago.

Rainfall between now and Wednesday morning looks like focusing on the area between Brisbane, Rockhampton and inland to the Great Dividing Range. Widespread falls of 100-200mm are likely on top of the 50-to-100mm which has already fallen since Sunday morning.

From Wednesday the heaviest rain is likely to ease throughout the region and shift north to the Capricornia, with the movement of a weakening trough. Flooding should then ease.

The coastal areas are now close to or have exceeded their monthly average rainfall.

With 64mm since 9am Sunday Brisbane has now had close to its monthly average of 150mm so far this month.

Rain has been affecting much of southeast Queensland for the past week and a half. While it has not been heavy each day it is keeping the ground saturated.

Brisbane has recorded some rain in each of the last 11 days. The last time the city had 11 consecutive rain days was in July last year.

With rain almost guaranteed on Tuesday will be the first time Brisbane has achieved 12 rain days in a row in five years.

Rain becomes a bit less of a chance on Wednesday and Thursday but then highly likely again from Friday when a trough moves in from the west. This trough may bring further heavy falls.

If Brisbane gets at least a bit of rain each day through to Saturday, it will become the longest wet spell in decades.

While most Queenslanders sheltered inside during the past week of severe storms, a breed of professional photographers known as storm chasers were outside, braving the danger to get the best possible shot.

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